Air Vests- is the jury still out?

[crackerjack]

I did a search for info regarding the effectiveness of air vests and couldn’t see anything from this year or last. From the studies I did see it looked like they were not significantly effective in preventing injury. You’d have to wear both the air vest and the hard vest. Has this changed or am I reading the results incorrectly? Short story even shorter- I got bucked off into a wall this week. Nothing major resulted except for a sore bum and the realization I’m no longer a bounceable 20 yr old. I would consider an air vest if it does more than just prevent bruises for $800. I want to be safe, not just part of a fad.

What’s people’s thoughts in 2023?

[NoSuchPerson]

In my opinion, you first have to separate eventers, who are required to wear protective vests on cross country, and your average hunter/jumper riders who are voluntarily wearing protective vests. The requirements and types of falls are sufficiently different to consider separately. The needs of an eventer moving at speed over a cross country course, which is where they have to wear protective vests, are not the same as those of your typical hunter rider.

If you look at discussions here on the eventing forum, it looks like most posters, or at least the most vocal posters, are vehemently against the wearing of air vests on the grounds that they not only aren’t helpful, they make things worse. I’m not going to argue with them. Some of them know way more than I do and maybe they’re right for their sport and their needs.

However, my needs are entirely different. I’m an old lady who, as you noted, doesn’t bounce anymore. I don’t jump big fences and I don’t jump at speed. The “add” is right in my, and my horse’s, wheelhouse. I’ve also become increasingly heat intolerant as I have gotten older so my traditional protective vest, about which I used to say “No it’s not too hot in the summer,” has become intolerably hot unless it’s cold out.

And, while I’m not an expert in the engineering of protective gear, I am sufficiently well educated in study design and statistical analysis to read and evaluate the few studies of air vests that are available.

My assessment of the anecdotal data and the limited study data leads me to conclude that for me the air vest is a good option and I can reasonably expect it to provide protection in the kinds of falls I’m likely to have. I haven’t bought one yet, because, yeah, they’re expensive, but it’s on my shopping list.

TLDR: Yes, I guess the jury is still out. But, I have looked at the available information and evaluated it in the context of my personal requirements, and have concluded that an air vest meets my needs.

Also:

@crackerjack

You’d have to wear both the air vest and the hard vest.

Eventers are required to wear protective vests in cross country. Thus far, the only approved vests are the traditional style. So, if you want to wear an air vest, you may, but the air vest alone is not sufficient to meet the vest requirement ,so you also have to wear an approved vest. People who choose to wear an air vest on top of their regular protective vest do so because they believe the air vest adds additional protection.

[ottbee]

This is helpful and I like your thought process. As someone also who is getting older and less bounceable, I have been considering an air vest. I don’t ride in my own saddle at this time but hoping to obtain a saddle that fits my half lease well, so I can attach the air vest. I don’t jump much, but I am so often alone at the barn when I ride (although I don’t jump when alone), and good safety equipment helps me feel confident. Following this thread closely.

[LCDR]

Just wondering - do the upper level eventers wear air vests while they are schooling cross country at home, or do they just put them on to meet competition rules?

I own two air vests, but I have never worn either of them anywhere but horse trials. As a fox hunter I considered wearing one, but am reluctant to buck tradition. I recall taking a lot of grief many years ago for wearing a cap with a harness. Besides, the fatalities that have happened in our hunt have been due to head injuries - head hits tree, or being lawn-darted into the ground, with injuries I don’t think an air vest would prevent.

[lcw579]

My daughter has been riding in the Horse Pilot vest since shortly after it came out. The makers worked with a company that makes protective gear for skiers and motorcyclists to adapt the technology to riding. She rides alone often so it makes me feel safer knowing she has it on. She also likes that they have a show coat and other clothing the vest zips into. It’s definitely an investment but they hold up well. Just make sure you remember to disconnect from the saddle or you will be buying a lot of replacement cartridges!

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

After watching too many big name riders fall and get significantly hurt, I bought one. I have not shown in it yet bc I want to play around with it at home first, but plan to wear it for my first few Jr/AO Derbies this summer/next year. I’ve seen more and more pros wearing them and certainly a lot of people jumping in 3’6 and bigger jumpers. Also, it’s becoming normal for jrs and I’ve seen a bunch of adult ammys also sporting them in the hunters.

[Gardenhorse]

@LCDR

Just wondering - do the upper level eventers wear air vests while they are schooling cross country at home, or do they just put them on to meet competition rules?

But air vests aren’t required to meet competition rules. Only foam body protectors are required for XC. So I would guess if they wear an air vest at a competition when it’s not required then they likely also wear one while schooling.

[LCDR]

I stand corrected. But do you know of any who wear air vests for schooling?

[MHM]

I believe they are getting ready to do a big study on the safety of air vests for equestrians in the near future at Virginia Tech, similar to the big scientific studies they have done there on helmets. Hopefully that will provide more specific data on the subject.

In the meantime, I see lots of people wearing them in the show ring, from pony riders to professionals in the Grand Prix classes. If it makes people feel better and safer when they ride, that seems like it’s a good thing.

[evtrmom]

short answer, yes! I was just out xc schooling this week with our barn and those that have air vests were wearing them, including our 5* riding trainer even though schooling didn’t really pass training level height.

[Gardenhorse]

@LCDR

I stand corrected. But do you know of any who wear air vests for schooling?

Yes. You can see Doug Payne is wearing one in this recent schooling video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8-FBbYVKmU

[Renn_aissance]

@MHM

If it makes people feel better and safer when they ride, that seems like it’s a good thing.

I have to quibble with this.

If feeling “better and safer” could lead people to take risks that they wouldn’t take without the vest, then the scientific evidence about harm reduction from the air vest becomes critically important. So far, as you note, we don’t have that evidence for the types of falls that are typically encountered by H/J riders.

[giddybiddy]

I’ve mentioned this elsewhere before, but I started riding in an air vest in the summer of 2021. I’m a super ammy, showing in the 2’3" hunters and eq on the safest horse in the world. But, I decided to give it a try (I only have one kidney, so I’ve always wanted to try protecting it better).

The only time I’ve “used” it was when said safe horse tripped at the canter and we both went down. In trying to find his legs again, he rolled on top of me. I hadn’t even realized the vest had gone off until I was sitting in a chair recuperating. It was a bad enough fall that I broke my nose and he knocked out his 2 front teeth — and everything under the vest was unscathed.

I am totally on board with folks saying they need more research — and fully support people who don’t feel comfortable wearing one just yet. In my case, the vest did exactly what I wanted it to do. I never ride without it now.

[George_T_Mule]

I wear my HitAir vest religiously for trail riding. I’m an old fart, and I figure that if the vest saves me from one trip to the ER, it has paid for its self. Not to mention saving me from the ordinary pain associated with an unexpected dismount. And the vest is cool, even on a hot day, and basically unnoticeable once you put it on.
Several years ago I was out with our club at a local Open Space park. We were in the middle of a nine-mile “Easy-Intermediate” loop. “Mea Culpa.” We were trotting along on a reasonably flat, sandy trail, and I was Not Paying Attention, but was busily chatting with another rider. My 17hh TB horse stumbled (or something; it was over almost before it happened), and I came off, landing flat on my 65yo back. It took a second for my awareness to catch up with reality, but the vest had deployed, and aside from a scuffed elbow, nothing hurt. Nothing; I didn’t even get the wind knocked out of me. I deflated the vest, dusted off, climbed back on, and finished the ride. (Feeling very naked w/o my vest, too.)
So yeah; I’m kinda fond of my inflatable vest. I’m also a proponent of “Be Here Now”, but at least the vest is always on the job, regardless of The Ozone Layer.
I will comment that everyone I know who has one has “tested” their vest on their first or second dismount by forgetting to disconnect the tether. Get a spare cartridge. Carry it in your riding kit.
Also, note that you do have to part company with your steed for the vest to deploy; if you and horse go down together, or if the little stinker slams you into a tree or whatever, it does absolutely nothing. This probably why they aren’t acceptable for Eventing or whatever.
But Oh Yeah; they do work, and at least the HitAir “Advantage” I have works exactly as advertised.

[RAyers]

The ones I know, no, they don’t. They wear the minimal amount of protection when schooling. Generally, they will wear a standard body protector, but we also jump around without them at times too.

[RAyers]

An N=1 doesn’t really mean anything. And it depends on the level at which they are schooling. I know many upper level eventers who don’t wear airvest at all. Yes, they wear standard vests, sometimes when schooling. Sometimes they don’t.

[NancyM]

Coming from the world of TB horse racing… Vests have been standard equipment for me for the last 25 years. The one I have now is old, and it’s not an inflatable one, just a standard Tipperary one. Now that I am no longer riding at the racetrack, my use of the vest is optional. I don’t use it every day, or with every horse. But I do use it if I feel like using it. It hurts less if you hit the ground if you have it on… it’s a noticeable difference. I have hit the ground while wearing it, and as I fly through the air expecting pain on landing, instead I tend to be pleasantly surprised by lack of pain more often than not. I do not have an inflatable vest, I would need a new canister every day, for sure. A friend who rides h/j professionally has one and uses it religiously. She broke her leg last year while wearing it… It doesn’t protect legs.
A friend who was a jockey was wearing a vest when he went down in a race. He got stepped on, at full speed by a horse coming along behind him. He survived, because of the vest. This was not an air vest. Ours is a dangerous business, riding horses for fun and employment. IMO, it’s best to take the best precautions you can.
But recently, I attended a “cowboy type breaking and training session” at a friend’s establishment. I was there as a spectator only. The “professional” said that he would not allow his students to wear any protective gear. No helmets for sure, and I would doubt that he had ever even heard of a “vest”. Because wearing protective gear makes people not careful enough. I kid you not. Participants were not allowed to wear helmets while getting on green/unbroken horses for the first time. This fella is now charging folks $2500 for a week long training clinic to teach folks how to break their own horses at home. I found this all quite amusing. This is the world we live in.

[MissusS]

I don’t have an air-vest so cannot comment on that at all, but I do have a regular vest and I wear it any time I have “that feeling” … haven’t ridden in 2 weeks? Definitely wearing the vest. Hacking out alone? 100% vest time. Windy day+mare in heat? Hey-o sounds like the right time to wear my vest! I probably wear it 50% of time time… so not religiously but way more than normal compared to the rest of the riders at my barn.

I’m knocking on 40, and am an adult beginner, who only does flatwork with maybe the occasional ground pole. I don’t have life-long skills ingrained into my riding habits, I don’t bounce too well, and I cannot afford to take time off work for an injury if I can help it.

[MHM]

@NancyM

But recently, I attended a “cowboy type breaking and training session” at a friend’s establishment. I was there as a spectator only. The “professional” said that he would not allow his students to wear any protective gear. No helmets for sure, and I would doubt that he had ever even heard of a “vest”. Because wearing protective gear makes people not careful enough. I kid you not. Participants were not allowed to wear helmets while getting on green/unbroken horses for the first time. This fella is now charging folks $2500 for a week long training clinic to teach folks how to break their own horses at home.

Wow. That sounds remarkably ill advised.

I wonder if he will ever get sued by somebody who wanted to wear a helmet or vest and was not allowed to before they got hurt with him.

[MHM]

Also, the USEF rules state that any exhibitor may wear a safety vest at any time without penalty.

GR 801.4. Any exhibitor may wear protective headgear (ASTM/SEI) and/or a protective vest either body protecting or inflatable, specifically designed for use in equestrian sport in any division or class without penalty from the judge. The Federation recommends that the vest pass or surpass the current ASTM standard F1937 or be certified by the Safety Equipment Institute. For Eventing, inflatable vests are permitted only when worn over a body protecting vest.